Gestational Diabetes: Pathophysiology, Risk, and Outcomes

Worldwide, gestational diabetes mellitus affects approximately 14% of pregnant women. Gestational diabetes can lead to increased risks for both the mother and the fetus, including preeclampsia, macrosomia, and/or fetal death. This webinar focuses on understanding the diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes in addition to the management and appropriate postpartum follow-up to ensure optimal outcomes for both mother and baby.

After this webinar, participants will:

Understand the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes

Know the current ADA guidelines for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes

Understand the recommended lifetime follow-up care for women with a history of gestational diabetes

Speaker: Jeanne Rhea-McManus, PhD, NRCC, DABCC, is currently a Medical Officer for Siemens Healthineers. She received her PhD in Genetics from the University of Georgia, and is board certified in Clinical Chemistry. Her past clinical research interests include HbA1c, diabetes, and the development and implementation of mass spectrometry methods in the clinical laboratory.

Monitoring Pregnancy with Clinical Laboratory Test

During pregnancy, an anatomical and biochemical transition occurs. Laboratory testing from the time pregnancy is first considered through the initial days of the newborn's life offers an accurate view of mother and baby’s health and well-being. These tests can help identify conditions that may increase the risk of complications and are key components to improve the likelihood of a healthy outcome.

In this webinar, Dr. Alison Woodworth will describe the physiological changes associated with normal pregnancy. A variety of laboratory tests are available to determine the well-being of the mother as well as the fetus and to assess risk of complications. She will provide in-depth review of these clinical laboratory tests; what they are, when they should be used and how they provide valuable information.

After this webinar, participants will:

Recognize the role of biomarkers in the detection and monitoring of pregnancy related disorders

Know the structure, function and role of hCG and its relationship to maternal and fetal well-being

Understand the importance of laboratory tests in first and second trimester screening

Speaker: Dr. Allison Woodworth, is Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medical Director of Core Clinical Laboratory and Point of Care testing at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry and currently serves as a director on the ABCC exam committee and Vice President of the credentialing committee. She is actively involved in teaching – having taught pathology residents, medical students, medical technologists, and endocrinology and maternal fetal medicine fellows.

Optimal Pregnancy Outcomes through Proper Infectious Disease Testing

Understanding the risks associated with infectious diseases during pregnancy and how to address them through proper diagnostic testing can ensure that pregnancy outcomes will lead to healthy mothers and healthy babies. This webinar focuses on the Zika virus, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and HIV infections.

After this webinar, participants will:• Understand the latest trends in Zika viral infection and testing in pregnancy.• Know the current guidelines for infectious-disease testing in pregnant women.• Understand the impact of proper infectious-disease testing on pregnancy outcomes.

Speaker: Judith Monroe, MD, is president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. Her career focus centers on the intersection of primary care and public health. While at the CDC Foundation, Dr. Monroe has focused on developing public-private partnerships to extend CDC’s lifesaving work, ranging from chronic and infectious disease prevention to health emergencies, such as the response to Zika virus.